Leafs only parading to penalty box

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TORONTO -- The Maple Leafs should have marched out of the Air Canada Centre right behind the 48th Highlanders following the opening ceremony last night.

Fresh off a win over the defending Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, the Leafs returned home and laid an egg.

The home side had a couple of chances early, but after failing to capitalize, completely fell apart, dropping the regular season home opener, 6-1, to the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal was up 2-0 after the opening period and 6-1 after two. Too many Canadiens goals were the result of ill-timed Toronto penalties, along with weak coverage in front of goaltender Vesa Toskala -- who mercifully was pulled at the start of the third for Curtis Joseph.

The Toronto defence, supposedly the club's strong suit, certainly was exposed. Newcomers Jonas Frogren and Luke Schenn looked slow and lost at times.

PECA FACES HEARING

Blue Jackets C Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely for making contact with an on-ice official.

He was assessed a game misconduct at 5:21 of the second period of the Blue Jackets' season opener on Friday night at Dallas. Peca will remain suspended pending a hearing to be scheduled next week.